As much as Paul Begala was right on MTP today...

[GarbagemanLB]

He was right about the 'guilt by association' game being dangerous for McCain to get involved in. However, there is a double standard between the two presidential candidates.

One is black, has a 'funny name', and is relatively unknown to some people still (relative to McCain).

McCain has been around for decades on the public stage, is white, and is well known as being a former P.O.W.

Now, you tell me which one has more to lose from a 'guilt by association' fight.

I think the Obama campaign is on to something when they avoid lowering themselves to McCain's level by bringing up what Begala did today or Palin's secessionist ties and instead focus on McCain simply not acting Presidential by being erratic. I think the claim of trying to change the subject from the economy, which is still by far the biggest worry of the general electorate, is also a powerful one to continue with. If McCain wants this to come down to who is 'risky', his actions over the past few weeks have only solidified Obama's message of him being the strong, cool-headed leader while McCain is flopping all over the place. I also think this healthcare tax issue has strong potential for adding to the 'risk' meme by simply asking, "What else is McCain hiding in his proposals?"

While I am sure this will be brought up on Tuesday, he needs to make sure he brings it up at the final two debates by emphasizing that the issue of the economy and healthcare is too big to allow for petty character attacks to distract us.

Going negative works, but it is all in the strategy...and frankly, I think Obama is on to something with questioning McCain's leadership ability, especially with this troubled economy.

[mzmolly]

1. I think our surrogates need to meet McCain in the alley.

We have taken the high road to losing, too many times.

[crazylikafox]

2. Agreed

[napi21]

3. I think it depends on "which" McNuts associations are brought up.

I agree that Obama shouldn't. It's NOT his style and it would look fake or at the very least uncomfortable for him. Joe Biden however could easily bring up John's close association with Charles Keating and that although he wasn't prosecuted for his part of the Keating 5, he was sanctioned for it! I'm positive there's footage of McNuts saying how sorry he was, and that it was really BAD JUDGEMENT on his part.

There's also no reason some Dem outside groups couldn't put a few slice & dice video's.

[lxlxlxl]

4. If people had better memories -- Keating and the S&L crises would be good reminders but...

they dont have good memories, and I think there is a political game where once you put one past association on the table, and that association is brushed aside, it becomes valid to throw out ALL associations.

I just hope Obama doesn't reference the NYT article...you know that is not going to go over well with people.

I think your right anticipating this coming up in the debates. I hope Sen. Obama can counter effectively. In a mature and real country, I hope we could have a debate either at the candidate level, or even in the press about 60's responses to the war. This country has whitewashed when necessary so much that talking about SDS or Bomb Hanoi is not possible.

[Hansel]

5. I agree. Obama knows exactly what he is doing.

He needs to stay completely above the fray and make sure his surrogates look like they are trying to do so to.

Obama's surrogates seem to be doing a good job of warning McCain off of the attacks by saying that McCain shouldn't start down that road considering his ties with the Keating 5. Then right away they pivot and say, "but that's not what the American people care about right now. They care about jobs, health care..." So they get the attack in, but indicate that the American people want them to rise above this and talk about their concerns.

I saw Raum Emanuel do this pitch perfect on Wolf's show this morning with Marsha Blackburn. He got a little help from Wolf even because Wolf clarified what Keating 5 was about in a not very flattering way to McCain. Marsha tried to scream over them saying "but Ayers, Ayers, Ayers". Emanuel just mocked her about Obama being 8 when Ayers did what he did while McCain was 58 when his association with Keating took a wrong turn.

It was great. Marsha looked like the ass she is and was extremely frustrated while Raum just smiled.

[BlooInBloo]

6. Yah - it doesn't matter because that's the ONLY card they have ...

Here's Obama with terrorists, btw:


:rofl:

[Hutzpa]

7. I understand your point

according to you Obama should not attack McCain but instead should
sit back and let McCain do the attacking, :wow:

I disagree entirely, this sit back and do nothing attitude brought
down Kerry, Sarah Palin and John McCain should be allowed bragging
rights but Obama should not because he is black and small town rural
folks would not vote for him and these are People that where not going
to vote for him in the first place.

What a lame ass excuse for an excuse, are you shitting me...watching
CNN this morning with Wolfe I was struck by how taken aback the
McCain spokeswoman was shaken by Wolfe and Linda mentioning Keating 5.

Heres my take on this;

THE OBAMA TEAM SHOULD UNLEASH THE KEATING 5

at the same time focus on health care which McCain definitely does not
have a solution for.

Now, there I said it.....

:grr:

[GarbagemanLB]

11. Where, exactly, did I say Obama should sit back and do nothing? It is all in the TYPE of response.

[anonymous171]

8. The Obama campaign's response to McPalin's culture war attacks

should always include the phrase "out of touch." Like "McPalin is so out of touch that they don't realize that Americans are hurting right now."

[THUNDER HANDS]

9. I don't know how William Ayers gets brought up tuesday

unless someone in the audience asks Obama about him directly. It's a town hall format, so it would take a really big segway for McCain to hit Obama on Ayers.

[GarbagemanLB]

10. He could easily switch to the topic by saying he wants to keep his campaign on the economic

issues the vast majority of voters are worrying about, and he can then bring up the fact that McCain is trying to change the subject because of his horrendous record on it.